Distinguished Scholars 2011: Stephen Gonzalez, Student Athlete

Cross-country star plans future as naval officer

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times
Stephen Gonzalez is a three-time District 31-4A cross-country champion, leading the Moody team to an overall district title.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times
Moody High School senior Stephen Gonzalez is a 2011 Distinguished Scholar in the Student Athlete category.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times
Moody High School senior Stephen Gonzalez (right) runs along side junior Daniel Guererro (left) and sophomore Jacob Martinez (back) during practice at Moody High School. Gonzalez is a 2011 Distinguished Scholar in the Student Athlete category.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times
Moody High School senior Stephen Gonzalez is a 2011 Distinguished Scholar in the Student Athlete category.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

CORPUS CHRISTI - Growing up, Stephen Gonzalez had a goal: To become a jock. But he never imagined himself a cross-country standout.

"I thought I wanted to do football and soccer, because those were the sports the jocks do," he said. "I thought running is for losers.' "

His mom didn't share his football dream, however, and in seventh grade coaxed him to Cole Park to try just one cross-country meet.

Stephen won.

"At that moment I realized that if I focused on improving my weaknesses in running, 'Hey, I can do something here,' " he said.

Six years later, Stephen, 18, is a three-time District 31-4A cross-country champion, leading the Moody team to an overall district title.

Stephen is a winner in the 2011 Caller-Times/Citgo South Texas Distinguished Scholars in the Student Athlete category. But although he captains the cross-country and track teams, his high school career is defined at least as much by academics and service.

In the challenging course load of Moody's Health Science Academy, he has a grade average of 101.44, ranking ninth in his class of 403. He is president of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, a Health Science Student Ambassador and a member of Moody's Academic Challenge Team.

"I'm most proud of how he's been able to balance everything he does — athletics, academics and extracurriculars — and still keep his Christian values and be a great role model," said his mom, Martha Gonzalez.

Stephen credits his parents and his Christian upbringing for his successes.

"My parents have been a huge part of my life, and they've been the backbone of everything I do and the decisions I make," Stephen said.

His parents and teachers also credit Stephen's work ethic and determination.

"What impressed me most was that at the beginning of the year his work wasn't as good as what some of the other students were turning in," said Richard Arellan, one of his teachers. "He recognized that AP U.S. History wasn't just a pushover class and if he wanted to be good he was going to have to work at it. Before long he was one of the top students in the class."

Stephen is applying that trademark determination to preparing for his future, which includes plans to become a naval officer.

"When I was young, the community helped me achieve my goals," Stephen said. "Now that I'm older it's time to give back. It takes young men like me to dedicate our lives to service so we can continue this lifestyle we have today."